ALDI supermarket will trial self-serve checkouts in 10 stores across New South Wales.
The retail giant installed the first of the new checkouts at its Darlinghurst store in Sydney on Wednesday, June 2.
ALDI said it will “closely” monitor the trial in the New South Wales stores before making a decision on rolling the registers out nationally.
But in a twist, ALDI’s self-serve checkouts have a “card only” payment option – as opposed to Coles and Woolworths registers which accept cash, coins and cards.
ALDI said each of the self-serve checkout aisles will have between six and eight registers each.
“To provide our customers with quick and convenient ways to shop and to drive business efficiencies, this week we commenced a self-checkout trial in Darlinghurst,” ALDI Australia store operations director Robert Eichfeld said.
The new ALDI self-serve checkouts will be card only. Credit: 7NEWS.com.au
“This is the first store to have received the technology and nine other stores in NSW are set to follow in the coming months.
“Anecdotal feedback from the first day of the trial was overwhelmingly positive with more than half of our customers opting to use the new self-checkouts.
“Shoppers also commented that they enjoyed the choice and appreciated the convenience of having a quick and easy option when only shopping for a few items.
“Since self-checkouts entered the Australian grocery sector we’ve been watching with keen interest the convenience they provide customers as well as the value and efficiencies they drive for business.”
The new self-serve checkouts at ALDI in Sydney’s Darlinghurst. Credit: 7NEWS.com.au
New baskets
Eichfeld said ALDI stores with the new checkouts will also stock baskets to assist shoppers.
“We anticipate the trial will appeal to our regulars as well as attract new customers, who are purchasing only a few items at a time – and we’ll also be introducing ALDI baskets in all trial stores to aid these small and quick shops,” he said.
ALDI will stock shopping baskets at the stores with self-serve checkouts. Credit: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images
“After carefully assessing and considering the trial results, there is potential that Self-Checkouts will be rolled out to more ALDI stores nationally.”
The news is a backflip to ALDI’s position on self-serve checkouts in 2019.
Back then, the supermarket said it had no plans to introduce the registers in stores, adding that research had shown them “shoppers prefer face-to-face interactions at registers”.
ALDI shoppers divided
Responding to the news on Facebook, ALDI fans were divided about the self-serve registers.
Many loved the idea, saying it would make shopping easier and faster.
“Happy with that. Would be nice to be able to get through with a couple of things quicker. Always seem to get stuck behind those with large shops and only one register going,” said one.
Added another: “Yes finally, they are great if you only have a few items, in and out quicker.”
Said one more: “OMG, awesome! Nothing worse than going in for a couple things and having to wait forever behind people with trollies full.”
ALDI shoppers are divided over the new self-serve checkouts. Credit: 7NEWS.com.au
But others were more hesitant, concerned that the move could cost Australians jobs.
“I won’t use them, jobs for the future,” said one.
Wrote another: “There goes more jobs!”
Said a third: “I don’t work there so I’m not scanning my own products. It’s bad enough they make me pack my own stuff.”
Many more could see the funny side in the new registers.
“I’ll miss the cashiers almost throwing me the groceries. Hahaha kiddin’! Love ALDI!” wrote one.
Said another: “I would miss my groceries piled up and pushed off the edge of the register when I couldn’t keep up.”
Added a third: “Yes! We already have to do everything but scan it. At least I can do it at my own pace with self-serve instead of having my groceries thrown at me.”
Source by 7news.com.au